Phoenix finishes season on high note

KLAMATH FALLS — The Phoenix football team overcame adversity early and late to defeat Henley 20-12 Friday and pick up its first Skyline Conference win on the field in two years.

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Posted Oct. 27, 2012 at 1:10 AM
Updated Oct 27, 2012 at 1:26 AM

Posted Oct. 27, 2012 at 1:10 AM
Updated Oct 27, 2012 at 1:26 AM

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KLAMATH FALLS — The Phoenix football team overcame adversity early and late to defeat Henley 20-12 Friday and pick up its first Skyline Conference win on the field in two years.

The Pirates (3-5, 1-4 Sky) collected a forfeit victory last season, but had not won on the field since Oct. 29, 2010, when they topped the Hornets 41-6.

Phoenix was led by junior quarterback Andrew Reynoso, who rushed for 127 yards and two touchdowns and passed for another score.

"It was a good one to end on," Phoenix head coach Toby Walker said.

Phoenix's final 65-yard drive was a dramatic one. With under six minutes left in the fourth quarter, Reynoso connected with Justin McCreadie for 21 yards on first-and-30. Tyson Morris next ran for 5 yards and then the Pirates drew an offsides penalty on the Hornets. Using some solid blocking, Morris rushed for 43 yards to put Phoenix at the Henley 1-yard line and then Reynoso punched in the game-winning score.

"Our kids made plays when they needed to that last drive," Walker said.

Morris ran for 124 yards on 13 attempts. Reynoso, who had 26 carries, completed three of his nine passing attempts for 76 yards, including a 46-yard touchdown strike to Morris that put Phoenix ahead 6-0 in the first quarter. Reynoso made it 12-0 on a 36-yard TD run.

Ronnie Bresser hauled in a 30-yard TD pass from Josh Overstreet in the second period, and Overstreet's 1-yard scoring plunge in the third evened things at 12 for the Hornets (2-7, 1-4).

The Pirates, who racked up 105 penalty yards, missed two chances to increase their lead in the first half after failing to cash in on a pair of opportunities in the red zone.

"We had some adversity but rose to the occasion," Walker said.

Phoenix held Henley to 27 rushing yards.

Ending the year a high note was important, Walker said.

"It's huge," he said. "They've worked hard all season. They deserved it tonight."

North Valley's Austin Neill scored his first of four touchdowns with just over 90 seconds gone. Then the Knights (8-1, 5-0 Sky) recovered an onside kick and turned it into a 14-0 lead with 5:51 left in the period.

The Skyline Conference champion Knights led 35-0 at halftime.

North Valley senior quarterback Tristan Burke was 10 of 14 passing for 198 yards and three touchdowns. Burke attempted just one pass in the second half.

CASCADE CHRISTIAN 61, ROGUE RIVER 0 — Brandon Williams racked up five touchdowns in the first half as Cascade Christian took off early in the Southern Cascade Hybrid contest at U.S. Cellular Community Park.

Williams had TD runs of 47, 42 and 7 yards. He also returned two punts for scores from 55 and 49 yards out.

On just seven touches, Williams had 222 all-purpose yards, 118 of which were rushing. The Challengers (9-0, 2-0 SCH) rested all of their starters in the second half.

Levi Girardot added 61 yards on seven carries and a 32-yard scamper to pay dirt in the first half for Cascade Christian.

The Challenger defense held Rogue River (3-5, 0-2 SCH) to minus-8 yards in the first half and 12 total for the game.

Cascade Christian linebacker Dante Olson had six tackles — two for loss — and a fumble recovery. Two of Nick Main's three tackles were for loss.

Late in the fourth quarter on third-and-30, Cody Parker ripped off a 62-yard run to help the Challengers run out the clock.

Rogue River 0 0 0 0 — 0

Cascade Christian 21 24 7 9 — 61

CC — Williams 42 run (Parker kick)

CC — Williams 55 punt return (Parker kick)

CC — Williams 47 run (Parker kick)

CC — Williams 7 run (Parker kick)

CC — Girardot 32 run (Parker kick)

CC — Williams 49 punt return (Parker kick)

CC — FG Parker 23

CC — Moore 6 run (Thomas kick)

CC — FG Thomas 20

CC — Brown 1 run (kick failed)

LOST RIVER 21, ILLINOIS VALLEY 7 — At Cave Junction, Illinois Valley's T.J. Hughey hauled in a touchdown from C.J. Manning to cut Lost River's lead to 13-7 in the third quarter, but the Raiders held their ground.

The Cougars dropped to 3-6 while Lost River improved to 7-2.

PROSPECT 60, POWERS 36 — At Prospect, with 20 seconds left in the first half, Prospect quarterback Boston Ehlers threw a 5-yard pass to Evan Jermain, who then shipped the ball over to Scott Kennedy on a lateral that was taken the final 45 yards for a touchdown to give his team an insurmountable lead.

That was just one of six total touchdowns for Kennedy, who also rushed for 203 yards on 18 carries for the Cougars (5-4, 3-4 District 2).